Cryogenic Expansion Turbine with Magnetic Bearings

Abstract

A cryogenic expansion turbine system (10) includes a turbo-expander (12) configured to receive and expand a cryogenic gas feed stream (24). A rotary shaft (16) operatively connects the turbo-expander and a resistance device, such as a compressor (14) or brake. A bearing housing (18) has a bearing cooling fluid inlet port and a bearing cooling fluid outlet port. Electro-magnetic bearings (22) are positioned within the bearing housing and rotatably support the rotary shaft. A bearing cooling circuit (72) directs a stream of bearing cooling fluid (62) into the bearing housing via the bearing cooling fluid inlet port so that the electro-magnetic bearings are cooled and resulting warmed bearing cooling fluid (68) exits the bearing housing via the cooling fluid outlet port.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.